Newborn giant panda cub dies at National Zoo

[Faygo Kid]

Source: Washington Post

The National Zoo’s week-old giant panda cub was found dead Sunday morning, the zoo announced.

The zoo said keepers heard “distressed vocalizations” from the female giant panda, Mei Xiang, at about 9:17 a.m. Sunday, and realized “this is not right, this is not good,” said zoo spokeswoman Pamela Baker-Masson.

The staff realized they had stopped hearing the cub’s healthy squealing, and managed to retrieve the cub from the den with a set of cushioned grabbers. Zoo veterinarians tried CPR on the cub, but the animal could not be revived.

The cub was born almost exactly a week ago, at 10:46 p.m. last Sunday, to jubilation across the city. . .

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/newborn-giant-panda-cub-dies-at-national-zoo/2012/09/23/e58c19f8-019b-11e2-9367-4e1bafb958db_story.html?hpid=z1

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OK, it's not a big deal compared to what is happening in Syria, for example.

But I was touched by it.

[a geek named Bob]

1. Personally...

I care more about the Pandas, than I do about Syria.

[montanacowboy]

2. It is a big deal

and I too worry about the wildlife of this planet which can never be replaced once gone

[hlthe2b]

3. I am so saddened by this and yes, it actually IS a big deal.

Heart breaking, really. They are so endangered.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Yes, so sad!!

[Trajan]

5. Oh no .... This will break a lot of sweet little hearts ....

I'm sure many kids were focused on that 'cute little baby panda' last week ..... What a heartbreaker ....

[grasswire]

6. the mother panda cried

Isn't that what "distressed vocalizations" means?

I wonder why they didn't have some monitoring on the little tyke so they would know it was heading for trouble.

[Faygo Kid]

9. Yes, she cried. We always underestimate animals' emotions.

In 1972, I shot and killed a porcupine. Long story, but it squeeked with every hit from the .22 I hit it with (I was a riflery instructor at a summer camp, and a good shot). First and last. I have never killed another animal since then (OK, mosquitoes and a couple spiders).

And I never will, except those cats or dogs that have come and gone throughout my lifetime. When it was time, of course. I miss them all, but still have an old cat and old dog who love me - and their treats.

[DollarBillHines]

10. How true. Check this out....

An old friend of mine is active in elephant conservation in central Africa and sent this email to me after his long-term mentor died.


Lawrence Anthony, a legend in South Africa and author of 3 books including the bestseller The Elephant Whisperer, bravely rescued wildlife and rehabilitated elephants all over the globe from human atrocities, including
the courageous rescue of Baghdad Zoo animals during US invasion in 2003.
On March 7, 2012 Lawrence Anthony died. He is remembered and missed by his wife, 2 sons, 2 grandsons and numerous elephants.

Two days after his passing, the wild elephants showed up at his home led by two large matriarchs.
Separate wild herds arrived in droves to say goodbye to their beloved man-friend.

A total of 31 elephants had patiently walked over 12 miles to get to his South African House.

Witnessing this spectacle, humans were obviously in awe not only because of the

supreme intelligence and precise timing that these elephants sensed about Lawrence 's

passing, but also because of the profound memory and emotion the beloved animals

evoked in such an organized way:


Walking slowly - for days - Making their way in a solemn one-by-one queue from their

habitat to his house.


Lawrence's wife, Francoise, was especially touched, knowing that the elephants

had not been to his house prior to that day for well over 3 years! But yet they knew where they were going.


The elephants obviously wanted to pay their deep respects, honoring their friend

who'd saved their lives - so much respect that they stayed for 2 days 2 nights without eating anything.


Then one morning, they left, making their long journey back home............

[Faygo Kid]

11. My new issue of National Geographic chronicles the elephant slaughter

I can hardly take it; we are as a species so cruel. My latest issue of National Geographic is unreadable for it reports on the slaughter of elephants. Thanks for your post, but I weep for all of us - elephants, dolphins, gorillas, whales, wolves, coral, humanity.

We are killing all of us.

[DollarBillHines]

14. My family breeds rhinos.

There are several ranches and preserves in the southern US that breed rhinos.

We raise Weide (White) Rhinos - the flat-snouts.

Until maybe a decade ago, they were meant to be replenishment, but so many were killed that we are just trying to maintain a diverse gene pool.

These days, any poachers who are caught in the field stay in the field.

[NickB79]

25. What an amazing profession!

I've always wished land could be set aside in the southern US (Texas perhaps) to recreate the African savannah somewhere that is more protected from poachers. A few million acres of land, populated by rhinos, elephants, cheetahs, gazelles, etc. I would think the tourism potential alone would be incredible.

[DollarBillHines]

26. It is a hard road.

Yes, we are in Texas...

We do the be best that we can.

We have borne 40 calves this past year.

It is a hard, hard struggle.

They are beautiful animals.

DollarBill

[DollarBillHines]

12. Baby pandas cannot be physically monitored.

When born, pandas are the size of a stick of butter. The mother is in constant contact, making any kind of electrode monitoring impossible.

During the first few weeks the baby is rarely ever seen.

[dipsydoodle]

7. Very sad to learn that

but thanks for posting.

[Judi Lynn]

8. What a shame. Mei Xiang has looked over the new one constantly, too.

She held the tiny one in her mouth when she was moving positions in the den, too, to make sure she didn't harm it,
rested with it right by her chin, cradled in her arm.

Hope the personel at the National Zoo will be able to help this great Panda, provide companionship, contact.

She was so constant, so devoted to raising Tai Shan, longsuffering, too, once he became mobile.

She could use some special friendship from the people overseeing her life now.

[qanda]

13. This makes me sad!

[potone]

15. It does matter.

Giant Pandas are very hard to breed in captivity and are severely endangered in the wild. Plus, they are just so damn cute! How could anybody not love them?

[luvspeas]

16. I watched the panda cam all week at work...

my connection at home is a little slow and I've been a bit too busy with my own life. Found out a couple of hours ago the little sweetheart died. I so loved to hear him squawk and holler. His mom was so attentive and it was so amazing to catch a glimpse of the baby in real time. You could tell that she knew what needed to be done and that this made her happy. I get so sad whenever I think about it, but we can all learn so much from both of them. Life is wonderful and precious and short and miraculous.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

17. I can't read anymore for crying

this is breaking my heart..........


if there were a god, he should be protecting his most innocent creatures, at least.

can't stop crying.


we're over-running the planet, killing off everything. Doesn't matter how compassionate anyone is, it can't compete with billions upon billions of humans whose first concern is their own survival.

it's up to us, only people can take responsibility for what we people are doing.......even if you believe in god as a deity who takes action on our behalf or comes to our rescue, you need to consider the bible verse that says we are stewards of the Earth. That means we are supposed to behave responsibly towards it and its creatures. goddammit.

god, crying too damn hard.... hurts.....

[Mnemosyne]

19. Oh, Blanche...

[BlancheSplanchnik]

22. *sniff*...thanks Mnem

sigh so frustrating...all the tears in the world aren't stopping the juggernaut.....

I WANTED THAT BABY TO LIVE!!!!!!!!!! We all did.....

Salmon Chanted Evening's LOLcats helped the crying stop, anyway......

:

[Mnemosyne]

18. That poor mama. Those babies are so fragile, hope it did not suffer. nt

[wutang77]

20. That just about ruined my Sunday.

[Omaha Steve]

21. So very sad

I posted about the birth in LBN just a few days ago.

Will this species survive?

[a la izquierda]

23. Pobrecitos...

this is sad news indeed.

[OnyxCollie]

24. (Sigh.)